Kalmyk cattle

Kalmyk cattle (Russian: Калмыцкая, Kalmytskaya) is a breed of beef cattle of the former Soviet Union, now found in the Russian Federation, in Kazakhstan and in Tajikistan.^[4][3] It is believed to have originated in Dzungaria, and to have been brought into south-eastern Russia by migrating Kalmyks in the seventeenth century.

Kalmyk cattle

Bull at the Moscow breeding cattle exhibition, 1896
Conservation status	FAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 144  DAD-IS (2023): unknown[2][3]
Other names	Russian: Калмыцкая Kalmytskaya
Country of origin	western Mongolia, southern Altai
Distribution	Russian Federation Kazakhstan Tajikistan
Use	Livestock
Traits
Weight	Male: 720 kg Female: 430 kg
Height	Male: 135 cm Female: 126 cm
Coat	red of various shades; white markings on head, belly and legs; pale muzzle
Horn status	horned; short, upward pointing
Notes
known for their extreme hardiness; belong to the group of Turano-Mongolian cattle
Cattle Bos (primigenius) taurus

History

It is believed that the Kalmyk originated in Dzungaria, and was brought into south-eastern Russia by migrating Kalmyks in the seventeenth century.^[5]: 214

In 1980 the total population of the breed in the Soviet Union was estimated at 381000, of which 217000 were purebred.^[6]: 3 In 2023 the Kalmyk was reported to DAD-IS by the Russian Federation, and by Kazakhstan and Tajikistan; no population data was reported, and the conservation status of the breed in those countries was 'unknown'.^[3]

Characteristics

The Kalmyk is compact and of medium size: the average bodyweight for cows is 430 kg, for bulls 720 kg; average heights are 126 cm and 135 cm respectively.^[4] The coat is red, in varying shades, with white markings to the head, belly, and legs. The head is small, with a long face and short horns.^[6]: 83